Clothes folding machine and control method

Abstract

The present invention discloses a clothes folding machine and a control method, wherein the clothes folding machine comprises a frame and a conveying device installed on the frame, wherein the conveying device comprises a plurality of folding conveying devices, wherein a folding output channel is formed between the two, and the clothes pass through the folding output channel to complete the clothes folding process; the clothes folding machine also comprises a folding mechanism that can be inserted into / pulled out of the folding output channel, and the clothes can be pressed into the folding output channel. The present invention sets a folding mechanism to press the clothes into the folding output channel for folding, and can guide the clothes to be folded and conveyed according to the designed conveying path, so that the clothes folding effect is better.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese patent application No. 202010218796.3.

[0002] Original application date: March 25, 2020

[0003] Original application number: 202010218796.3

[0004] Original invention name: A clothes folding machine and control method Technical Field

[0005] The present invention belongs to the field of clothing processing equipment, and in particular, relates to a clothing folding machine and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0006] In daily home life, it is necessary to fold and store the dried clothes. At present, most families fold the dried clothes manually, either manually or with the help of a clothes folding board, which is time-consuming and laborious. With the development of society, people's pace of life has accelerated, and they have less time to do housework. Clothes that are not folded and stored in time are randomly piled up, which greatly wastes storage space. The improvement of living standards is also accompanied by an increase in the types of clothes. The folding process is more cumbersome. People do not know how to fold many clothes, so the folded clothes cannot be well protected. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a product that can be used in scenarios such as homes to help people realize automatic folding of clothes, which can effectively replace the complicated folding work and liberate people from complicated housework.

[0007] In the prior art, there is a device that folds clothes in the length direction by transferring clothes between conveyor belts. The specific working principle is that when clothes are laid flat on two adjacent conveyor belts, the two conveyor belts rotate towards each other, so that both ends of the clothes move toward the middle, thereby folding and transferring them out from the gap between the two. However, in this solution, when the two ends of the clothes move toward the middle, there is no way to ensure that the clothes are stacked exactly between the two conveyor belts. At the same time, the clothes may also fold and bulge in the direction away from the transfer gap, affecting the final folding effect.

[0008] In view of this, the present invention is proposed. Summary of the invention

[0009] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provide a clothes folding machine and a control method that can guide clothes to be folded according to a designed conveying path.

[0010] In order to solve the above technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0011] A clothes folding machine comprises a frame and a conveying device installed on the frame, wherein the conveying device comprises a plurality of folding conveying devices, wherein a folding output channel is formed between the two devices, and clothes pass through the folding output channel to complete the clothes folding process; the clothes folding machine also comprises a folding mechanism which can be inserted into / pulled out of the folding output channel and can press clothes into the folding output channel.

[0012] Furthermore, the conveying device includes a first folding conveying device and a second folding conveying device arranged on one side of the first folding conveying device, the first folding conveying device has a first conveying surface and a second conveying surface, the second folding conveying device has a third conveying surface and a fourth conveying surface, the second conveying surface is arranged opposite to the fourth conveying surface to form a folding output channel; the folding mechanism includes a first folding mechanism that can be inserted / pulled out of the folding output channel, and can press the clothes into the folding output channel.

[0013] Furthermore, the conveying device also includes a third folding conveying device arranged above the second folding conveying device, the third folding conveying device has a fifth conveying surface, the fifth conveying surface has a transmission roller at one end close to the first folding conveying device, and the intersection of the first conveying surface and the second conveying surface has a transmission roller, and a folding conveying channel is formed between the two transmission rollers; the folding mechanism also includes a second folding mechanism that can be inserted / pulled out of the folding conveying channel, which can press the clothes into the folding conveying channel.

[0014] Furthermore, the folding mechanism includes a mounting frame fixed on the frame, a pressing plate movably mounted on the mounting frame, and a driving device for driving the pressing plate to insert into / extract from the folding output channel.

[0015] Furthermore, the mounting frame includes a lead screw with a certain length arranged on both sides of the folding output channel along the moving direction of the pressure plate, and a lead screw nut is fixedly arranged at a corresponding position on the pressure plate, and the lead screw nut is installed on the lead screw; one end of the lead screw is connected to a motor that drives it to rotate.

[0016] Furthermore, the conveying device also includes a transporting conveying device arranged above the folding conveying device, and the transporting conveying device is used to transport the clothes entering the clothes folding machine to the folding conveying device.

[0017] Furthermore, the conveying device also includes an extrusion conveying device arranged between the transporting conveying device and the folding conveying device; the transporting conveying device transports the clothes entering the clothes folding machine to the extrusion conveying device, and the clothes are squeezed in the thickness direction by the extrusion conveying device and then transported to the folding conveying device.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a control method for the clothes folding machine described above. When the clothes are spread out on the surfaces of two folding conveying devices, the clothes folding machine controls the two folding conveying devices to rotate toward each other, and at the same time controls the folding mechanism to move and insert into the folding output channel, presses the clothes into the folding output channel for folding, and then outputs the clothes from the folding output channel to complete the clothes folding process.

[0019] Further, the conveying device includes a first folding conveying device, a second folding conveying device arranged at one side of the first folding conveying device, and a third folding conveying device arranged above the second conveying device; a folding output channel is formed between the first folding conveying device and the second folding conveying device, and a folding conveying channel is formed between the first folding conveying device and the third folding conveying device; the folding mechanism includes a first folding mechanism that can be inserted / pulled out of the folding output channel and a second folding mechanism that can be inserted / pulled out of the folding conveying channel;

[0020] The control method includes controlling the first folding conveyor and the third folding conveyor to rotate towards each other when the clothes are unfolded on the surfaces of the first folding conveyor and the third folding conveyor, and controlling the second pressing and folding mechanism to move and insert into the folding conveying channel; when the clothes are unfolded on the surfaces of the first folding conveyor and the second folding conveyor, controlling the first folding conveyor and the second folding conveyor to rotate towards each other, and controlling the first pressing and folding mechanism to move and insert into the folding output channel.

[0021] Furthermore, the control method specifically comprises the following steps:

[0022] 1) Determine whether the length of the clothing is less than the preset length;

[0023] 2) controlling the third folding conveyor device and the first folding conveyor device to convey in the same direction, so as to convey a portion of the clothes from the surface of the third folding conveyor device to the surface of the first folding conveyor device;

[0024] 3) Control the third folding conveying device to continue conveying, and the first folding conveying device to convey in the reverse direction, and at the same time control the second pressing mechanism to move and insert into the folding conveying channel, and press the clothes into the folding conveying channel for the first folding;

[0025] 4) controlling the second folding mechanism to move and draw out the folding transmission channel;

[0026] 5) If it is determined that the length of the clothes is less than the preset length, the first folding conveyor device and the second folding conveyor device are controlled to rotate towards each other, and the clothes are transferred from the folding conveyor channel to the folding output channel, and then output to complete the folded clothes; if it is determined that the length of the clothes is greater than or equal to the preset length, part of the clothes are transferred to the second folding conveyor device, the first folding conveyor device and the second folding conveyor device are controlled to rotate towards each other, and at the same time, the first pressing and folding mechanism is controlled to move and insert into the folding output channel, the clothes are pressed into the folding output channel for a second folding, and then output to complete the folded clothes.

[0027] After adopting the above technical scheme, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art.

[0028] The clothes folding machine of the present invention is provided with a folding mechanism inserted into the folding output channel, and the clothes are pressed into the folding output channel for folding, thereby completing the clothes folding. The clothes can be guided to enter the folding output channel in a designed direction for folding, with neat creases and good clothes folding effect.

[0029] The clothes folding machine of the present invention can guide the clothes to be folded and conveyed according to the designed path by arranging the first and second folding mechanisms to be inserted into the folding output channel and the folding conveying channel respectively, thereby further improving the neatness of the clothes folding.

[0030] In the clothes folding machine of the present invention, the folding mechanism is driven by a lead screw and a lead screw nut, and the connection structure is simple and easy to control.

[0031] The clothes folding machine of the present invention is provided with a squeezing conveyor device to first squeeze the clothes entering the folding conveyor device, so that the clothes are flatter and have a uniform thickness, which is beneficial to the subsequent folding step.

[0032] The control method of the clothes folding machine of the present invention has different moving modes of the first and second folding mechanisms according to the different lengths of the clothes, so as to guide the clothes to be folded along different paths, so that the clothes have more uniform length after folding.

[0033] The specific implementation modes of the present invention are further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The accompanying drawings are part of the present invention and are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention, but do not constitute an improper limitation of the present invention. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work. In the accompanying drawings:

[0035] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a clothes folding unit and a storage unit of a clothes folding machine of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the first folding mechanism of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of the second folding mechanism of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the distribution of the sensing units in the conveying device of the clothes folding machine of the present invention.

[0039] In the figure: 1, storage unit; 100, conveying and transmission device; 110, first guide plate; 200, extrusion and transmission device; 201 transmission mechanism; 202, extrusion mechanism; 210; second guide plate; 300, folding and transmission device; 310, first folding and transmission device; 320, second folding and transmission device; 330, third folding and transmission device; 400, pressing and folding mechanism; 410, first pressing and folding mechanism; 411, first pressure plate; 412, first lead screw; 413, first lead screw nut; 414, first lead screw motor; 420, second pressing and folding mechanism; 421, second pressure plate; 422, second lead screw; 423, second lead screw nut; 424, second lead screw motor; 51, first sensing unit; 52, second sensing unit.

[0040] It should be noted that these drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the conceptual scope of the present invention in any way, but are intended to illustrate the concept of the present invention for those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present invention but are not used to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0042] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the directions or positional relationships indicated by the terms "up", "down", "left", "right", etc. are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0043] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installation" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0044] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the clothes folding machine of the present invention comprises a clothes folding unit consisting of a frame and a conveying device installed on the frame, and also comprises a storage unit 1 located below the conveying device, for receiving clothes folded by the clothes folding unit. The conveying device comprises a plurality of folding conveying devices, wherein a folding output channel is formed between the two, and the clothes pass through the folding output channel to complete the clothes folding process; the clothes folding machine also comprises a folding mechanism 400 that can be inserted into / pulled out of the folding output channel, and can press the clothes into the folding output channel.

[0045] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveying device further comprises a transporting conveying device 100 disposed above the folding conveying device 300 , and the transporting conveying device 100 receives the clothes entering the clothes folding unit and transports them to the folding conveying device 300 .

[0046] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveying device also includes an extrusion conveying device 200 arranged between the transporting conveying device 100 and the folding conveying device 300; the transporting conveying device 100 transports the clothes entering the folding unit to the extrusion conveying device 200, and the clothes are squeezed in the thickness direction by the extrusion conveying device 200 and then conveyed to the folding conveying device 300.

[0047] Embodiment 1

[0048] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the folding machine described in this embodiment includes a folding unit consisting of a frame and a conveying device installed on the frame, and also includes a storage unit 1 located below the conveying device, for receiving clothes folded by the folding unit. The conveying device includes a conveying conveyor 100, a squeezing conveyor 200 and a folding conveyor 300 from top to bottom.

[0049] The clothes enter from the right end of the conveying device 100 and are conveyed to the left under the drive of the conveying device 100. The conveying device 100 has foldable flaps on both sides, which can be folded upward to fold the part of the clothes that exceeds the width of the conveying device 100, so that the width of the clothes is uniform, which is conducive to subsequent conveying and folding. An arc-shaped first guide plate 110 is provided at the left end of the conveying device 100, and the clothes are conveyed downward under the guidance of the first guide plate 110 and enter the squeezing conveying device 200 below.

[0050] The clothes are conveyed to the right on the squeezing and conveying device 200. The squeezing and conveying device 200 includes a conveying mechanism 201 for conveying clothes and a squeezing mechanism 202 arranged above the conveying mechanism 201 and at a certain angle to the conveying direction, and an squeezing and conveying channel that gradually narrows along the conveying direction of the clothes is formed between the two. The squeezing mechanism 202 includes two driving rollers and a conveyor belt wound on the driving rollers. The clothes are conveyed to the right on the squeezing and conveying device 200. When passing through the squeezing and conveying channel, they are squeezed by the lower driving roller in the squeezing mechanism 202, which can make the thickness of the clothes more uniform. In order to achieve a good squeezing effect, the right end of the squeezing mechanism 202 is installed in contact with the conveying mechanism 201, and the conveyor belt of the conveying mechanism 201 is hollow below the contact point, with a downward pressing space of at least 10 cm in height. Preferably, the angle between the conveying mechanism 201 and the squeezing mechanism 202 is 6°. A second arc-shaped guide plate 210 is provided at the right end of the squeezing and conveying device 200, and the clothes are conveyed downward under the guidance of the second guide plate 210 into the folding and conveying device 300 below.

[0051] The folding conveyor 300 includes a first folding conveyor 310 capable of bidirectional transmission and a second folding conveyor 320 capable of bidirectional transmission and arranged on the right side of the first folding conveyor 310. The first folding conveyor 310 has a first transmission surface and a second transmission surface, and the second folding conveyor 320 has a third transmission surface and a fourth transmission surface, and the second transmission surface and the fourth transmission surface are arranged opposite to each other to form a folding output channel. Preferably, the second transmission surface and the fourth transmission surface are arranged parallel to each other. A first pressing mechanism 410 that can be inserted into / pulled out of the folding output channel is also installed on the frame of the folding machine, which can press the clothes into the folding output channel.

[0052] The first folding mechanism 410 includes a first mounting frame fixed on the frame, a first pressing plate 411 movably mounted on the first mounting frame, and a driving device for driving the first pressing plate 411 to be inserted into / pulled out of the folding output channel. In a preferred solution of this embodiment, the first mounting frame includes a first lead screw 412 with a certain length arranged on both sides of the folding output channel along the moving direction of the first pressing plate 411, a first lead screw nut 413 is fixedly arranged at a corresponding position on the first pressing plate 411, the first lead screw nut 413 is cooperatively mounted on the first lead screw 412, and a first lead screw motor 414 is connected to the right end of the first lead screw 412 to drive it to rotate.

[0053] When the clothes are unfolded on the first conveying surface and the third conveying surface, the first folding conveying device 310 and the second folding conveying device 320 convey them towards each other, and at the same time, the first screw motor 414 drives the first screw 412 to rotate, driving the first pressure plate 411 to the left to insert into the folding output channel, pressing the clothes into the folding output channel for folding, and then conveying them into the storage unit 1.

[0054] The folding conveyor 300 further includes a third folding conveyor 330 disposed above the second conveyor 320. The third folding conveyor 330 has a fifth conveying surface, and a transmission roller is provided at one end thereof close to the first folding conveyor. A transmission roller is provided at the intersection of the first conveying surface and the second conveying surface, and a folding conveying channel is formed between the two transmission rollers. A second pressing mechanism 420 that can be inserted into / pulled out of the folding conveying channel is also installed on the frame of the clothes folding machine, and the clothes can be pressed into the folding conveying channel.

[0055] The second folding mechanism 420 includes a second mounting frame fixed on the frame, a second pressing plate 421 movably mounted on the second mounting frame, and a driving device for driving the second pressing plate 421 to be inserted into / pulled out of the folding conveying channel. In a preferred solution of this embodiment, the second mounting frame includes a second lead screw 422 with a certain length arranged on both sides of the folding conveying channel along the moving direction of the second pressing plate 421, a second lead screw nut 423 is fixedly arranged at a corresponding position on the second pressing plate 421, the second lead screw nut 423 is cooperatively mounted on the second lead screw 422, and a second lead screw motor 424 is connected to the lower end of the second lead screw 422 to drive the second lead screw 422 to rotate.

[0056] When the clothes are unfolded on the fifth conveying surface and the first conveying surface, the first folding conveying device 310 and the third folding conveying device 330 convey them towards each other. At the same time, the second screw motor 424 drives the second screw 422 to rotate, driving the second pressure plate 421 to press down and insert into the folding conveying channel, pressing the clothes into the folding conveying channel for folding.

[0057] In a preferred implementation manner of the present embodiment, sensors are respectively provided on the first mounting frame and the second mounting frame. When the first pressure plate 411 / the second pressure plate 421 moves to a specific position, the corresponding sensor is triggered, the corresponding first screw motor 414 / the second screw motor 424 stops driving, and the first pressure plate 411 / the second pressure plate 421 stops inserting into the folding output / transmission channel.

[0058] In this embodiment, the clothes folding machine is provided with a first and a second folding mechanism, which can be respectively inserted into the folding output channel and the folding transmission channel, so as to press the clothes into the channel for folding, and can guide the clothes to be folded and transmitted according to the set path, so that the creases are neat and the folding effect is good; the folding mechanism is driven by a lead screw and a lead screw nut, and the connection structure is simple. A sensor is provided to obtain the moving position of the pressure plate, thereby controlling it to stop moving, and the control of the folding mechanism is simple and easy.

[0059] Embodiment 2

[0060] This embodiment is a further limitation of the above-mentioned embodiment 1. Among the first, second and third folding conveying devices, at least one folding conveying device is slidably mounted on the frame in a direction close to or away from its adjacent folding conveying device to adjust the width of the folding conveying channel and / or the folding conveying channel.

[0061] In a preferred solution of this embodiment, the first folding conveyor device includes a transmission roller group and a conveyor belt wound on the transmission roller group, and the transmission roller group is installed on a transmission roller bracket. A driving motor is installed on the transmission roller bracket, and the driving motor drives the transmission roller to rotate through the transmission belt, thereby driving the conveyor belt to move. The transmission roller bracket is fixedly connected with a slider, which is installed on the frame and can slide left and right to drive the first folding conveyor device to approach or move away from the second folding conveyor device and the third folding conveyor device. Preferably, the frame is provided with a convex part / groove with a certain length along the left and right direction, and the slider is provided with a corresponding groove / convex part, which can be slidably installed on the convex part / groove on the frame. Since the first folding conveyor device 310 can slide left and right as a whole, when the clothes pass through the folding conveying channel and the folding output channel, if the clothes are thick, the first folding conveyor device 310 can adaptively move to the left, so that the folding conveying channel and the folding output channel become wider, so as to avoid the clothes from getting stuck or being damaged due to excessive squeezing.

[0062] In a more preferred solution of the present embodiment, a first elastic member for resetting the first folding conveyor is provided between the driving roller bracket and the frame. A first fixing portion is fixedly provided on the frame, and the driving roller bracket is fixedly connected to a first connecting member, on which a second fixing portion is provided. The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are in the shape of a raised rod, and the first elastic member is a spring, with two ends respectively hung on the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion. After the first folding conveyor can adaptively move to the left, the first elastic member is in a stretched state, and when the clothes completely pass through the folding output channel, the first elastic member can pull the first folding conveyor to move to the right and reset to adapt to the next piece of clothes passing through, so as to avoid the next piece of clothes passing through being relatively thin, and the folding channel being too wide to achieve a good folding effect.

[0063] In this embodiment, by providing a movable first folding conveying device, the width of the folding conveying channel and the folding output channel can be adjusted to adapt to clothes within a larger thickness range, and a good folding effect can be achieved for clothes within a larger thickness range; by providing a first elastic member, the displaced first folding conveying device can be reset after the clothes are completely conveyed out to adapt to the next piece of clothing passing through.

[0064] Embodiment 3

[0065] This embodiment is a control method for the clothes folding machine described in the above-mentioned embodiment 1. When the clothes are spread out on the surfaces of two adjacent folding and conveying devices, the clothes folding machine controls the two folding and conveying devices to rotate towards each other so that the two ends of the clothes are conveyed toward the middle, and at the same time controls the corresponding first / second folding mechanism to move and insert into the folding output / conveying channel, presses the clothes into the folding output / conveying channel for folding, and then conveys them out.

[0066] Specifically, when the clothes are unfolded on the surfaces of the third folding conveyor and the first folding conveyor, that is, the fifth conveying surface and the first conveying surface, the first folding conveyor and the third folding conveyor are controlled to rotate toward each other, and the second screw motor is controlled to drive the second screw to rotate forward, driving the second pressing plate to press down and insert into the folding conveying channel, pressing the clothes into the folding conveying channel to be folded. When the clothes are unfolded on the surfaces of the first folding conveyor and the second folding conveyor, that is, the first conveying surface and the third conveying surface, the first folding conveyor and the second folding conveyor are controlled to rotate toward each other, and the first screw motor is controlled to drive the first screw to rotate forward, driving the first pressing plate to insert into the folding output channel to the left, pressing the clothes into the folding output channel to be folded.

[0067] In this embodiment, when two adjacent folding and conveying devices rotate toward each other, the folding machine controls the corresponding first / second folding mechanism to move and insert into the folding output / conveying channel, and presses the clothes into the folding output / conveying channel for folding. It can guide the clothes to be folded and conveyed along the set path, so that the creases are neat and the folding effect is good.

[0068] Embodiment 4

[0069] This embodiment is a further limitation of the above-mentioned embodiment 2. The control method also includes the following steps: during the conveying process of the clothes, the clothes folding machine obtains the length range of the clothes and determines whether it is less than a preset length L'. According to different judgment results, the conveying method of the folding conveying device is different, and the moving methods of the first folding mechanism and the second folding mechanism are also different.

[0070] like Figure 4 As shown, in order to obtain the length range of the clothes to be folded, a sensing unit for identifying the length of the clothes to be folded is arranged on the conveying device. The folding machine has a main control system, which is respectively connected to the conveying device and the sensing unit. The sensing unit includes a first sensing unit 51 and a second sensing unit 52 for sensing the clothes to be folded. The main control system detects the length range of the clothes to be folded by the clothes sensing unit to control the folding action of the clothes to be folded on the folding conveying mechanism, so as to achieve a better folding effect.

[0071] Specifically, the conveying device has a conveying path, the conveying path has a conveying path entrance end and a conveying path terminal end, the clothes move from the conveying path entrance end to the conveying path terminal end, the first sensing unit 51 and the second sensing unit 52 are arranged on the conveying path, and there is a certain distance L' between the second sensing unit 52 and the first sensing unit 51, preferably, L'=62cm;

[0072] The conveying path entry end and the conveying path terminal end do not refer to the entry end and the terminal end of the clothes to be folded, but are only for clearly describing the setting positions of the first sensing unit 51 and the second sensing unit 52 .

[0073] Preferably, the first sensing unit 51 and the second sensing unit 52 are photoelectric sensors both connected to the main control system; more preferably, the photoelectric sensors are through-beam photoelectric sensors, which use through-beam photoelectric sensing technology to detect clothing, which is beneficial to improving the ability of the clothes folding machine to measure the length of clothing of different colors and materials.

[0074] The method for obtaining the length range of clothing specifically includes: the clothing moves along the direction in which the clothing enters, and when the second sensing unit 52 senses the clothing, the main control system determines whether the first sensing unit 51 senses the clothing, and when the first sensing unit 51 senses the clothing, it determines that the length L of the clothing is greater than L'; when the first sensing unit 51 does not sense the clothing, it determines that the length L of the clothing is less than L'.

[0075] In the above-mentioned clothing length detection method, the through-beam photoelectric sensor consists of two parts, a light emitter and a light receiver. When there is no obstacle between the two, the light emitter of the sensor emits light and the light receiver receives the light. At this time, the light receiver outputs a low-level signal; conversely, when there is an obstacle between the light emitter and the light receiver, the light receiver outputs a high-level signal.

[0076] The first sensing unit 51 and the second sensing unit 52 cooperate to detect the length range of clothing. The transmission distance L' between the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit is fixed, for example, it can be 62cm. If the second sensing unit is true (clothing is detected), the first sensing unit is still true (clothing is detected), and the length of the clothing is judged to be greater than or equal to the transmission distance L' between the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit; if the second sensing unit is true (clothing is detected), the first sensing unit is false (clothing is not detected), and the length of the clothing is judged to be less than the transmission distance L' between the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit.

[0077] When the clothes folding machine determines that the length of the clothes is greater than or equal to the preset length L', the clothes are folded twice by controlling the folding conveyor, the first folding mechanism and the second folding mechanism. Specifically, the control method includes the following steps:

[0078] 1) Controlling the third folding conveying device and the first folding conveying device to move to the left, so as to convey a portion of the clothes from the fifth conveying surface to the first conveying surface, and the length of the clothes remaining on the fifth conveying surface is less than the length of the clothes conveyed to the first conveying surface;

[0079] 2) Control the third folding conveyor to continue conveying to the left, and the first folding conveyor to convey to the right, and at the same time control the second screw motor to drive the second screw to rotate forward, drive the second pressing plate to press down and insert into the folding conveying channel, and press the clothes into the folding conveying channel for the first folding;

[0080] 3) Control the third folding conveyor and the first folding conveyor to continue conveying, and at the same time control the second screw motor to drive the second screw to reverse, drive the second pressing plate to withdraw the folding conveying channel upward, control the second folding conveyor to convey rightward, and convey the folded part of the clothes from the folding conveying channel to the third conveying surface;

[0081] 4) Control the third folding conveyor and the first folding conveyor to continue conveying, and control the second folding conveyor to convey to the left, and control the first screw motor to drive the first screw to rotate forward, so as to drive the first pressing plate to insert the clothes into the folding output channel to the left, and press the clothes into the folding output channel for the second folding;

[0082] 5) Control the first folding conveyor, the second folding conveyor and the third folding conveyor to continue conveying, and at the same time control the first screw motor to drive the first screw to reverse, drive the first pressure plate to withdraw the folding output channel to the right, and the clothes are output through the folding output channel to complete the folding of clothes.

[0083] In this embodiment, the clothes folding machine can adopt corresponding control methods according to the length of the clothes, so that the folding method of the clothes is adapted to the length of the clothes; this embodiment provides a control method for folding longer clothes, which can fold the clothes twice, and the size after folding is smaller.

[0084] Embodiment 5

[0085] The difference between this embodiment and the fourth embodiment is that when the clothes folding machine determines that the length of the clothes is less than the preset length L', the clothes are folded once by controlling the folding conveyor, the first folding mechanism and the second folding mechanism. Specifically, the control method includes the following steps:

[0086] 1) Controlling the third folding conveyor and the first folding conveyor to move to the left, so as to convey a portion of the clothes from the fifth conveying surface to the first conveying surface, and the length of the clothes remaining on the fifth conveying surface is nearly equal to the length of the clothes conveyed to the first conveying surface;

[0087] 2) Control the third folding conveyor to continue conveying to the left, and the first folding conveyor to convey to the right, and at the same time control the second screw motor to drive the second screw to rotate forward, drive the second pressing plate to press down and insert into the folding conveying channel, and press the clothes into the folding conveying channel for the first folding;

[0088] 3) Control the third folding conveying device and the first folding conveying device to continue conveying, and at the same time control the second screw motor to drive the second screw to reverse, drive the second pressure plate to pull out of the folding conveying channel upward, control the second folding conveying device to convey to the left, and transport the folded clothes from the folding conveying channel to the folding output channel. The clothes are output through the folding output channel to complete the folding of clothes.

[0089] This embodiment provides a control method for folding shorter clothes, in which the clothes are folded only once; for clothes of different lengths, by controlling the clothes folding machine to fold the clothes at different times, the sizes of the folded clothes can be made closer, which is convenient for storage.

[0090] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention in any form. Although the present invention has been disclosed as a preferred embodiment, it is not used to limit the present invention. Any technician familiar with this patent can make some changes or modify the technical contents suggested above into equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present invention. However, any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solution of the present invention still fall within the scope of the solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A clothes folding machine, comprising a conveying device, characterized in that: The conveying device comprises a first folding conveying device and a second folding conveying device arranged on one side of the first folding conveying device, the first folding conveying device has a first conveying surface and a second conveying surface, the second folding conveying device has a third conveying surface and a fourth conveying surface, the second conveying surface is arranged opposite to the fourth conveying surface to form a folding output channel, and the clothes pass through the folding output channel to complete the folding process; The conveying device further comprises a third folding conveying device disposed above the second folding conveying device, the third folding conveying device having a fifth conveying surface, the fifth conveying surface having a transmission roller at one end close to the first folding conveying device, a transmission roller at the intersection of the first conveying surface and the second conveying surface, and a folding conveying channel formed between the two transmission rollers; The conveying device further comprises a conveying conveying device disposed above the folding conveying device, the conveying conveying device being used to convey the clothes entering the clothes folding machine to the folding conveying device; The conveying device further comprises a squeezing conveying device arranged between the conveying conveying device and the folding conveying device; the conveying conveying device conveys the clothes entering the clothes folding machine to the squeezing conveying device, and the clothes are squeezed in the thickness direction by the squeezing conveying device and then conveyed to the folding conveying device; When the clothes are being conveyed, the folding machine obtains the length range of the clothes and determines whether it is less than the preset length L'. According to different judgment results, the conveying mode of the folding conveyor device is different; The conveyor device is provided with a first sensing unit and a second sensing unit for sensing the clothes to be folded. The conveyor device has a conveying path. The first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are arranged on the conveying path. There is a certain distance L' between the second sensing unit and the first sensing unit.

2. The clothes folding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The extrusion conveying device comprises a conveying mechanism for conveying clothes and an extrusion mechanism arranged above the conveying mechanism and forming a certain angle with the conveying direction, and an extrusion conveying channel which gradually narrows along the conveying direction of clothes is formed between the two.

3. The clothes folding machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The extrusion mechanism comprises two transmission rollers and a conveyor belt wound on the transmission rollers, and one end of the extrusion mechanism is installed in contact with the conveyor mechanism.

4. A control method for a clothes folding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: When the clothes are unfolded on the surfaces of the first folding conveyor device and the third folding conveyor device, the first folding conveyor device and the third folding conveyor device are controlled to rotate towards each other, so that the clothes enter the folding conveying channel for folding; When the clothes are unfolded on the surfaces of the first folding conveyor and the second folding conveyor, the first folding conveyor and the second folding conveyor are controlled to rotate towards each other, so that the clothes enter the folding output channel for folding.

5. The control method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The control method specifically comprises the following steps: 1) Determine whether the length of the clothing is less than the preset length; 2) Control the third folding conveyor device and the first folding conveyor device to convey in the same direction, so as to convey a portion of the clothes from the surface of the third folding conveyor device to the surface of the first folding conveyor device; 3) Control the third folding conveying device to continue conveying, and the first folding conveying device to convey in the reverse direction, so that the clothes enter the folding conveying channel for the first folding; 4) If it is determined that the length of the clothes is less than the preset length, the first folding conveying device and the second folding conveying device are controlled to rotate towards each other, so as to convey the clothes from the folding conveying channel to the folding output channel, and then output the folded clothes; If it is determined that the length of the clothes is greater than or equal to the preset length, part of the clothes will be conveyed to the second folding conveyor, and the first folding conveyor and the second folding conveyor are controlled to rotate towards each other, so that the clothes enter the folding output channel for a second folding and output to complete the folding.

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